Apple Watch Sales Comprised Half of Smartwatch Market in 2018

Apple Watch maintained pole position in the smartwatch market over last year's fourth quarter as global smartwatch shipments continued to grow, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics.

Apple shipped 9.2 million Apple Watch units during Q4 2018, according to the report, rising 18 percent from 7.8 million units in Q4 2017. Global smartwatch shipments meanwhile grew 56 percent annually to reach a record 18 million units in the same quarter.

Apple's global smartwatch marketshare actually slipped to 51 percent this quarter, down from 67 percent a year ago, but Apple held on to first position with a 51 percent global smartwatch marketshare, while Samsung jumped to second place, overtaking Fitbit and Garmin.

The research corroborates an earlier report from consumer research firm The NPD Group that Apple Watch is the "clear market leader" in the U.S. smartwatch market, but it also underlines the growing threat of rivals like Samsung, which continues to invest heavily in wearables that are compatible with both Android devices and iPhones.

"Apple's global smartwatch marketshare slipped to 51 percent this quarter, down from 67 percent a year ago," said Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics. "Apple Watch is losing marketshare to Samsung and Fitbit, whose rival smartwatch portfolios and retail presence have improved significantly in the past year."

Apple doesn't reveal Apple Watch unit sales from its overall earnings. But in a recent earnings call for the first quarter of the 2019 fiscal year, CEO Tim Cook said the company's wearables revenue was being driven by the "amazing popularity" of Apple Watch and AirPods, and that the category was "approaching the size of a Fortune 200 company."

Top Rated Comments

I Actually know of people that the Apple Watch saved their life, and you’re telling others in this thread that health features are a ‘Gimmick’? [There are documented stories on the health features the Apple Watch has saved lives.] It’s hard to take your post any thing as credible.

We bought a $400 Apple Watch for my son and it was a great investment. He has autism and no sense of time. He now uses the timer to study and take breaks. He answers his phone and messages. He has a clue as to what the weather is doing and if he needs a coat. All without prompts or nagging. He is 23 and has had the watch for only 2.5 months. Amazing technology. I see it as becoming very important for aging and disabled populations - especially if they can get a better lte inside it and it doesn’t require a cell phone.

It’s really quite slow now with the latest watchOS available for it (4.3.2) but it wasn’t so bad back with the first few versions of watchOS. However, battery life still admirably good for its age, and Apple Pay on your wrist is marvellous.

I was hoping to upgrade to a series 4, but now may have to wait until series 5.

It’s been an interesting journey seeing how Apple have readjusted their focus for the Watch, and they do seem to be on a great trajectory with health & fitness features. I hope they work on filling out other uses, too - to expand the capabilities of this little companion computer.

Good job Apple! The Apple Watch is well done and should be a model to others.

So munch negative comments for Tim (well deserved as he is a fool) but will give him credit where credit is due.

Only problem is that most of the world doesn’t use iOS or iMessages. Just in Asian, no one uses it. Line, wechat dominate, so utility of the Apple Watch is reduced (Walkie talkie) as most of the world has andriod (Apple fan boys please look up world stats before denying it)

I use Line and WeChat on my Apple Watch, they have apps for it. So don’t see the problem.

The only negativity I read about the Apple Watch, was on sites like this that were knocking a new product that Apple wanted to bring to the market.

The Apple Watch when it first started, was really mainly a notification device, but now that health is priority, it’s a whole new era, and I think the Apple Watch has one of the brightest futures of all of Apple‘s products given where is leading ultimately. Features like EKG, fall detection, those are features that are actually useful, besides just being a notification device primarily. This is just the start of what is to come for the watch.

Yeah, the first gen was a trial run. Once Apple figured out what they want to focus on, ie. health, the Apple Watch gains important upgrades every iteration (S2 got waterproofing for swimmers, S3 got cellular for outdoor runners, S4 got EKG for even closer steps into a health care device).

Meanwhile, the Android Wears and Samsung Gears just keep spinning around without any clear intention of what their purpose is supposed to be.

MacRumors attracts a broad audience
of both consumers and professionals interested in
the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on
purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.